Frequently Asked Questions

Kura Toa

  • Kura Toa is led by Kathleen O’Hare (Te Ātiawa Awa ki Waiwhetū, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), supported by a team of kaiako and Te Pikau o te Rangi specialist support team.

  • Kura Toa is for students in Years 7–13 (from 2027) and their whānau who are motivated for education to be delivered differently - grounded in identity, purpose, and real pathways for the future.

  • To begin your enrolment, please submit the EOI form. We will be in touch with you to organise a whānau hui.

  • Are your kaiako trained?

    Yes. Our team includes trained primary and secondary teachers, with specialist strengths including te reo Māori.

  • We are a bilingual kura, we actively integrate the use of te reo Māori across the curriculum

  • Yes. Kura Toa will offer NCEA in its first year and engage our own assessment approach that aligns with our curriculum

  • We are developing an AI-supported learning tool that will help rangatahi move at their own pace across the curriculum, supporting personalised learning and progress.

  • Yes. Sport and physical wellbeing are an important part of each champion’s Mauriora journey.

    Students can access team sports with other schools where needed, as well as smaller team and individual sport opportunities within the kura.

  • Fridays are flexible learning days. Rangatahi can study from home, with kaiako available online and kaiako made available onsite at kura.

    This time supports project work, industry engagement, and extended learning, while also allowing for kaikao planning and development.

Support for Rangatahi

  • Not yet. As development progresses, we will have an intentional approach to shaping both our specialist programme and physical environment to provide inclusive access.

  • We provide a range of support through our Ngāti Toa education ecosystem, including Te Pikau o te Rangi specialist support, Te Puna Mātauranga programmes, and strong pastoral care.

    Every learner has a Mauriora plan to ensure the right support is available at the right time.

Practical Information

  • Kāore. There are no tuition fees to attend Kura Toa. Whānau may incur school costs such as uniforms or extracurricular activities, but there are no fees for attendance.

  • We are in discussion with the Ministry of Education to explore transport options for whānau, though encourage whānau to be prepared for child transport arrangements.

  • Kāore. Kura Toa is not limited to a zoned area.

  • Kura Toa is currently working to design appropriate kākahu to support our sense of pride and identity at Kura Toa

  • Yes. All rangatahi are required to have a digital device that supports their learning from day one.

  • Yes. Support is available on a case-by-case basis and will be discussed with whānau during the enrolment process.

Charter School

  • A charter school is a publicly funded, free-to-attend school that operates independently of the traditional state school system under a formal agreement (or charter) with the Crown. This charter sets out the school's purpose, educational goals and the high standards it must meet.

    For Kura Toa, being a charter school means we have the flexibility to design learning, teaching approaches and school programmes that reflect the aspirations of Ngāti Toa and respond to the needs of our learners and whānau. This flexibility allows us to innovate while remaining accountable for delivering strong educational outcomes, student wellbeing and sound governance.

    At the heart of Kura Toa is a commitment to providing an exceptional education, building strong relationships with whānau, and creating an environment where every rangatahi can thrive academically, culturally and personally.

  • Yes. Kura Toa has entered into a 10-year charter school contract with the Crown, providing certainty for students, whānau and staff. Like any long-term public contract, it continues regardless of the normal election cycle.

  • Governments may have different education policies, but Kura Toa operates under a legally binding contract with the Crown. Our immediate focus is on delivering an outstanding education for our learners and meeting the high standards required under that contract.

    As with any publicly funded organisation, future governments may review education policy, but our commitment to our students and whānau remains unchanged.

  • Because Kura Toa is much more than a new school.

    It is part of Ngāti Toa's long-term vision for education and builds on many years of successful educational programmes already supporting whānau across our rohe. Kura Toa has been designed to provide a lasting educational option for our community, not simply respond to a single political moment

  • Yes. Kura Toa reflects Ngāti Toa's enduring commitment to the success of our young people. While the school operates under a charter school contract with the Crown, the vision behind Kura Toa is much bigger than any single government or election cycle.

    Our aspiration is to create an educational pathway that will benefit generations of whānau.